Clod eliminator for attachment to a potato harvester



March 18, 1958 LT. DOWNS 2,827,241

CLOD ELIMINATOR FOR ATTACHMENT To A'PoTATo HARVESTER Filed NOV. 30, 1953I 2 s t s 1 Fig./

HHHI l v I 13 -fimmunmnmnn I2 40/ 1 T v l To l5 9 m 1 Irv/fig 7. Downs IN V EN TOR.

March 18, 1958 1. T. DOWNS 2,82

CLOD ELIMINATOR FOR ATTACHMENT TO A POTATO HARVESTER Filed NOV. 50, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irving 7. Downs INVENTOR- Unit CLQD ELIMINATGR FGRATTACHlVIENT T O A. PGTATO HARVESTER This invention relates to a clodeliminator and specifically provides an improved device for attachmentto potato harvesting machines, such as potato diggers or potatoharvesters.

In the operation of potato harvesting machines particularly where theearth forms large clods, difliculty is encountered in breaking andremoving the earth clods in that portion of the machine where thepotatoes are separated from the vines and discharged to the sackingstation. As is well known, the potatoes are carried on conveyors of thescreen mesh type wherein the earth is shaken through the screenconveyors for the purpose of separating the earth from the potatoes.However, in some instances the clods do not break easily and sometimesthe clods are sacked along with the potatoes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a clod eliminator forbreaking up the earth clods on the conveyor of a potato harvestingmachine whereby the earth can be effectively separated from the potatoesso that only potatoes are delivered to the sacking station.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clod eliminatorincluding a plurality of resiliently mounted crushing rollers or thelike in contact with the conveyor wherein clods may be effectivelybroken up thereby delivering the potatoes from the conveyor in athoroughly cleaned condition.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clod eliminatorhaving a resiliently mounted clod crushing roller and means foradjusting the relationship of the roller and the conveyor depending uponthe various operating conditions and the nature of the soil.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the clod eliminator of this inventionmounted upon the conveyor of a potato harvesting machine;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially alongsection line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of theclod eliminator;

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical section taken substantially alongsection line 33 of Figure 2 showing the relationship of the conveyor andthe clod eliminator of this invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the clod eliminator attachment removedfrom the potato harvesting machine.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that thenumeral generally designates the clod eliminator of this invention foruse in conjunction with a potato harvester having a trough member 12having upstanding side walls 14 and an endless conveyor 16 movable alongthe trough 12 for transporting the potatoes, potato vines and theaccompanying earth clods along the trough 12.

rates Patet ice The clod eliminator 10 includes a pair of oppositelyfacing angle irons 18 adapted to engage the upper edges of the sidewalls 14 and secured thereto by fastening members 20 which secure thevertical portion of the angle irons 18 to the side walls 14. Anupstanding strap member 22 is secured to the upper surface of each anglemember 18 by welding 24 or other suitable means. The upper ends of theupstanding straps members 22 are connected by a transverse bar 26.Adjacent the lower end of the upstanding members 22 and on the innersurface thereof is a socket member 28 for receiving a transverse rod 30therein. The rod 30 is in spaced vertical parallel relation to the bar26. A plurality of elongated bracket members 32 have a tubular sleeve 34positioned adjacent the midpoint thereof and'surrounding the rod 30wherein the brackets 32 are pivotally secured to the shaft or rod 30.One end of each of the brackets 32 is provided with a U-shaped member 36for receiving an axle 38 between the free end portions of the legmembers of the U-shaped member 36. A wheel member 49 including a rim 42is journaled on the axle 38 and the wheel 40 is provided with apneumatic tire or other relatively soft material. Further, the tire isprovided with a relatively wide outer surface wherein the wheel 40 formsa clod engaging and breaking member. As shown in Figure 3, thecollective tread width of wheels 49 covers a major portion of thetransverse width of the conveyor. In the specific embodimentillustrated, it is seen that there are three brackets 32 and the relatedstructure of the wheel 40, however, it will be understood that anynumber of these individually operated assemblies may be utilized. At anend remote from the U-shaped member 36 the bracket 32 is provided withan aperture for pivotally receiving an elongated rod 44 having aU-shaped end member 46 straddling the end of the bracket 32 andpivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin 48. The transverse bar 26 isprovided with a plurality of transversely spaced apertures 50 which arein alignment with the brackets 32 and slidably receive the elongated rod44. A spring 52 is positioned on the outer end of the rod 44 and engagesone side of the bar 26 and a coil spring 54 is positioned around theinner end of the rod 44 and engages the other surface of the bar 26.Adjustable screw threaded nuts 56 are then threaded onto the elongatedbar 44 at opposite ends thereof for adjusting the tension of the springs52 and 54. It will be seen that the Wheel member 40 may be adjusted inrelation to the conveyor 16 by manipulation of the screw threaded member56 or the particular force with which the wheel engages the conveyor 16may be also regulated. It is seen that the bar 26 is disposed in angularrelation to the upstanding members 22 wherein the fiat surfaces of thebar 26 will be substantially perpendicular to the elongated rod 44 whenthe clod engaging wheel 40 is in its normal position.

In some instances it may be desirable to slightly raise the wheel 40above the surface of the conveyor 16 and this can be easily accomplishedby the obvious manipulation of the nuts 56 wherein the wheel 40 assumesa resilient floating condition. It will be seen that the wheels 4t) areindividually movable and the particular spacing arrangement may bechanged as desired in the individual set ups. In practical operation,the conventional industrial tires have been used as the clod engagingwheels 40 and it will be obvious that other devices may be utilized andthe particular number of wheel assemblies is determined by theindividual conditions and the particular size of the conveyor on thepotato harvester. The various elements of this invention may beconstructed of conventional stock materials thereby assuring thereasonable production cost of the device of this invention. Further, itwill be seen that the clod eliminator 'carrying conveyor,

mounted on said rod, an axle. positioned ontdne end f said bracket, aclod crushing wheel journaled onsaid axle, and means at the other end ofsaid bracket to 'reattachment 0f this invention may be easily attachedto or removed from the conventional potato harvester as the individualconditions require.

From the foregoing; the construction and operation of thedevice will bereadily understood and further exslliently retain said Wheel adjacent;to the conveyor'of a potato harvester, said resilient retaining'means'includ ing a transverse barmounted in spaced'par'allel relationto said rod, said bar having an aperture in alignment with said bracket,an elongatedv rod 'pivo'tally attached to the'other end, of the bracketand slidably'receivedin said aperture, an independent springmountedfoneach side ofsaid bar and surrounding said rod, and ineans oneach end of said rod in engagement with said spring for adjusting thetension on said relation of said bracket.- a

2. A clod eliminator for attachment to 'a potatoharvester having adischarge conveyor comprising: a transverse rod mounted in verticallyspacedrelatibn tosaid conveyor, a plurality of transversely spacedbrackets independently pivotally mounted on said rod, a clod breakingwheel mounted on each bracket and positioned in resilient contact withsaid conveyor, and means ro resiliently adjusting said bracket on saidrod thereby springs and the angular j adjusting the position of saidwheel in relation to the conveyor, said resilient adjustingmeansincludin'ga transverse bar mounted in spaced parallel relationto'said rod,

said bar having an aperture in alignment with each tures, an independentcoil spring surrounding said elongated rod on each side of said bar andabutting opposite sides of said bar, and adjustable means adjacentremote 1 ends of each of said elongated rod and engaging remote ends ofsaid springs for adjusting the normal position of saidwheelsfin'relation to the conveyor, said wheels having a wide peripheralsurface with the collective tread covering the major portion of theWidth of theconveyor." t ,7 a t-- r 3. A clod eliminator for attachmentto a potato harvester having a dis'cha rge conveyor comprising atransverse rod mounted in vertically spaced relation to said conveyor, aplurality of transversely spaced brackets independently pivotallymounted on said rod, a clod breaking wheel rnounted o'n 'e'ach bracketand positionedtor rolling contact with the load'carrying surfaceof thecone veyor for breaking clods disposedlthereon, meansfor adjustablyindependently and resiliently urging said brackets pivotally about saidrod, for independently urging the wheels towards the loadcarrying'surface of the conveyor for varying the crushingeffectiof thewheels therebypreventing crushing of potatoes each of said wheels havinga pneumatic'tir e thereon having a generally'flat transverse peripheral*tread surface with the collective tread width toftthe tires 'adapteditocontact a major of the load'carryin'gsurface of the'conveyon V Reterences Cited inlthe file, this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I V ,courso'n20, 1,886

340,103 7 ,331,722 Remy Feb. 24, 1920 1,621,739 Parker Mar. 22, 19272,014,060 Albrecht Sept. 10, {1935 2,177,026 ,Nigh'tenhel'ser'et in.-Oct. 24, 1939 2,252,593 -Bruene: Au' .12, 1941 2,582,872 lrengl l Ian.15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 561,891'

of said brackets, an elongated rod pivotally attached to each of saidbrackets and slidably received Within said aper- I portion

